Garage Living Creates Functional Space with Sustainability at the forefront of the Design
October 07, 2022 // FranchiseMarketingSolutions.com // – When Thomas Greschner and Nancy Fontana, the owners of Garage Living (Palm Springs), the premium garage transformation company in the US, purchased a vacation home in La Quinta, California, they had no idea that it would open the door to not only a new business opportunity, but a partnership with Volvo Car USA as well.
Prior to opening their Garage Living franchise, the pair owned and operated several companies in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. After selling those businesses, the couple began looking for new business ventures.
“When we remodeled our own garage in La Quinta, we saw an opportunity to improve upon the garage makeover services in the area,” says Greschner. “That drove us to start a conversation with Garage Living and within a few months, we had signed for the franchise rights for all of Southern California.”
A recent poll by Garage Living found that 20% of homeowners can’t park in their garage because of how cluttered and disorganized it is. Garage Living’s custom cabinetry and slatwall solutions help solve this common issue.
Garage Living is the industry leader in custom garage transformations. From creating an organized space for cars, bikes, and trucks, to re-imagining the garage into a home gym, Garage Living helps clients remodel their garages based on their needs. Following the initial consultation, on-site visit, and product selection, the transformation itself typically takes only two to four days to install.
Since opening their Garage Living franchise, the pair have utilized Greschner’s background in construction and Fontana’s design and organizational skills to provide each client with a functional space that maximizes the square footage beyond the interior of the home. The 5,000 square foot showroom is the largest of Garage Living’s 36 locations, with the highest project sales average when compared to the rest of the franchise network.
This March, the Garage Living Palm Springs team worked with Volvo Car USA to design and build out a multi-purpose, Recharge Garage at a $5.8M single-family residence located at 2465 Winter Sun Drive, currently listed for sale by Compass agent Marc Sanders in Palm Springs, California. This garage was then spotlighted in Volvo Car USA’s Recharge Drive Event featuring the fully electric Volvo C40 vehicle.
“The demand for electric vehicle adapted garages continues to grow,” says Aaron Cash, President and Co-Founder of Garage Living. “Approximately 40% of our design consultations on existing garages and virtually 100% of new build garages now factor in an EV.”
The partnership was born out of each company’s shared vision to create a garage environment free from emissions, where homeowners can rest, reconnect, and recharge. “As Volvo continues its electrification journey, the advancement and accessibility of home charging is critical to driving continued adoption of EVs,” said Anders Gustafsson, Sr. Vice President Americas and President and CEO, Volvo Car USA. “The ReCharge Garage concept provides a glimpse into a future where electric cars will reshape our lives for the better, whether on the road or at home.”
The Recharge Garage, which is based off Garage Living’s Designer Series of the same name, emphasizes sustainability and versatility for electric vehicle owners.
The design complements the architecture of the house, the desert landscape and Volvo’s Scandinavian aesthetic with features including:
- Two Volvo-branded electric-vehicle chargers inside the garage with a third in the car port
- Vertical slatwall made in North America with up to 10% recycled PVC
- Slate colored Floortex™ floor coating with a 15-year California warranty
- Fully customized cabinetry made in North America with under cabinet lighting
- Clever storage solutions including space for golf clubs and an electric scooter
- Flexible work-from-home space formed from a maple counter with a built-in desk, along with a separate folding leg table for extra counter surface when necessary
- An entertainment center with a 75” state-of-the-art smart TV and Bowers & Wilkins speakers
“When working on this project, our goal was to showcase that sustainability efforts can be implemented in every part of the home – including the garage,” says Fontana.
“Garage Living extends the home’s usable living space and creates a clean, welcoming entry for homeowners, allowing them to park their vehicles in style,” said Marc Sanders, Compass real estate agent representing 2465 Winter Sun Drive. “Through their workmanship and attention to detail, Garage Living turns this often-overlooked space into a multi-purpose room that completes the home.”
Located at 78595 CA-111, Suite 100 in La Quinta, the Garage Living showroom features fully outfitted garage displays, showcasing Garage Living’s Designer Series with a vast selection of flooring, cabinetry, wall storage and specialty racks. Clients have the opportunity to speak with a Design Consultant and experience an immersive look into Garage Living’s custom solutions firsthand.
The Garage Living Palm Springs location services a selection of areas, including Coachella Valley, Riverside County, Orange County and San Diego County.
About Garage Living®
Founded in 2005, Garage Living® is a premium garage transformation company headquartered in Canada.
With 36 franchises across North America, each location offers clients turn-key garage transformations managed by professionally trained designers, installers, and service personnel.
Each project is designed to the client’s specific needs with the end goal of creating functional, clean spaces that can be used year- round. For more franchise information, please visit the Garage Living Franchise Showcase.
SOURCE Garage Living